THREE wardens hired to stop people smoking outside hospitals have quit in disgust over the levels of verbal abuse.

All three walked away just days after starting the £12,000-a-year job, blaming intimidation from smokers.

The wardens were hired as part of an NHS drive to stop people flouting no smoking rules outside hospitals.

It was hoped they would encourage people to stop lighting up as doctors have warned the fog of smoke at hospital doors could harm the health of visitors and patients.

The three wardens began work last week at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow, which is also home to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

But they quit within days, citing unbearable intimidation and verbal abuse from people they caught smoking in the grounds. NHS Glasgow and Clyde rolled out the scheme at 11 hospitals, employing 17 full-time wardens.

The scheme has seen them rebrand hospital entrances with red warning signs and giant no smoking zones.

The board’s director of public health, Dr Linda de Caestecker, said: “Despite early signs of success I am extremely disappointed at the level of verbal abuse that has been spouted at some of our smoking wardens.